This unique 7-string guitar tuning, named "Open G Minor Deep Drone", creates a rich, dark, and highly resonant soundscape. Designed for the adventurous guitarist, it offers a powerful foundation for genres ranging from heavy rock and metal to blues, folk, and experimental music. The tuning leans heavily into a G minor tonality, enhanced by a deep, impactful low D drone.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to D2 G2 D3 G3 A#4 D4 G4, from the lowest 7th string to the highest 1st string. This arrangement essentially forms an Open G Minor chord (G-A#-D) across the majority of the strings, with the lowest D2 acting as a potent fifth drone.

• The lowest three strings (D2-G2-D3) establish a powerful D-G-D power chord base, providing a deep, resonant foundation.
• The core of the tuning (G2-D3-G3-A#4-D4-G4) clearly outlines a G minor chord, making it incredibly intuitive for creating G minor harmonies and melodies with minimal effort.
• The intervals between the open strings are: Perfect 4th (D2-G2), Perfect 5th (G2-D3), Perfect 4th (D3-G3), Minor 3rd (G3-A#4), Major 3rd (A#4-D4), and Perfect 4th (D4-G4). Note the significant leap between G3 and A#4, which creates a distinct voicing opportunity.

Chords and Playability

This tuning excels at creating full, resonant chords with simple fingerings.

• Open G Minor: A single finger barre across all open strings (or strings 6-1 for a traditional G minor) immediately gives you a rich G minor chord.
• Movable Minor Chords: By barring all strings at any fret, you can effortlessly play minor chords across the fretboard. For example, barring at the 2nd fret yields A minor, at the 5th fret yields C minor, and so on.
• Power Chords: The D-G-D pattern on the lowest strings makes powerful, low-end riffs easily accessible.
• Slide Guitar: This tuning is highly conducive to slide playing, allowing for smooth, resonant minor harmony glides.
• Creative Voicings: The unique interval structure, particularly the G3-A#4-D4 section, opens up possibilities for unconventional chord voicings and melodic lines.

Be aware that tuning all strings up, and some by as much as 5 semitones, implies a significant increase in string tension. It is strongly recommended to use heavier gauge strings designed for higher tension or to approach this tuning with caution, especially on guitars not built to withstand such stress.

Below are the target notes for each of the 7 strings, from the lowest (7th) to the highest (1st):

• String 7 (Lowest): D2
• String 6: G2
• String 5: D3
• String 4: G3
• String 3: A4#
• String 2: D4
• String 1 (Highest): G4

How to Tune

To achieve the "Open G Minor Deep Drone" tuning, please follow these specific adjustments. It is crucial to note that all strings are tuned up, and some significantly. For strings requiring a change of 5 semitones or more, it is highly recommended to consider using a different, heavier gauge string to prevent breakage and avoid excessive tension on your guitar neck.

• String 7 (lowest): Tune to D2. This requires tuning up 3 semitones.
• String 6: Tune to G2. This requires tuning up 3 semitones.
• String 5: Tune to D3. This requires tuning up 5 semitones. Caution: This is a significant upward adjustment; a heavier string gauge is strongly advised.
• String 4: Tune to G3. This requires tuning up 5 semitones. Caution: This is a significant upward adjustment; a heavier string gauge is strongly advised.
• String 3: Tune to A4#. This requires tuning up 3 semitones.
• String 2: Tune to D4. This requires tuning up 3 semitones.
• String 1 (highest): Tune to G4. This requires tuning up 3 semitones.